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Friday, December 23, 2011

repeat the sounding the joy

A colleague posed this question on her Facebook status: "What does it mean to 'repeat the sounding joy'?" I can't stop thinking about this. What a wonderful Christmas question!

Shepherds near Bethlehem were tending their flocks during the night, when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared saying: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is the Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

These shepherds received specific instructions on how to find this Saviour; he would be a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12). They followed these instructions quickly searching Bethlehem for the child and upon finding him and seeing the angel's words fulfilled "they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:17-18).

I love this story. Good tidings of great joy are given to a group of men who follow the instructions and then share the news of what they found with their neighbors in Bethlehem. If this isn't an example of repeating the sounding joy, then I don't know what is.

Repeating the sounding joy is loudly and joyfully done at Christmas, but it should be done all year through. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ both in word and by example are the best ways to repeat the sounding joy and to give the wondrous gifts of Christmas. "These are the gifts that we can offer to others for Him. We do that by remembering him and trying with all out hearts to do what he would do and love as he loves" (El. Eyring, 2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional).